Interstate travel

We recently flew from Adelaide to Sydney then travelled by train to Newcastle. The train system would not accept our pension or seniors card but have to apply for a gold opal card which can only be done on line.

What about people that don’t have computers?

There we no exceptions for people who didn’t know and the website doesn’t actually reflect this. I feel this is a very unfair system for travellers. Why cannot the system be the same all around Australia as the pension card and seniors card are recognised in all states yet the transport systems have their own individual system?

Time for our ministers to to have a one Australia system.

This was very frustrating and I know it’s not much money but totally unfair.

Sandra

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Gold Opal cards need to be ordered online so your concession eligibility.

Whilst frustrating, I would think people who are going to travel interstate should plan for their travel.

Unfortunately we are overgoverned with different laws in each state and different councils.

This makes it difficult when reading from other members and not knowing which state they are from

.... surely it would not take much of an effort to attach the State under the avatar.


Yes its a state by state system.  Australia is a dinosaur nation and here's the next one to prove it.

As for needing computers my only thought is that those who refuse to get one probably have not migrated to the automobile either.  Don't forget to feed the hirses guys. Chuckle.....

That's a bit unfair Mick - living in a lifestyle village I have come accross several old folk who won't (or can't) for various reasons, have a mobile or computer, but they can function in everyday life without a carer.

Whilst I agree with your sentiment life moves on and we'll all have to adapt somehow Juris.

When you get past it somebody has to do things for you.  Just the way it is.  Cheers.

 

For heaven's sake Mick, put a sock in it. Many of the elderly have eye problems which makes it very difficult for them to use a computer or mobile phone.

Just be thankful you are able to and have some empathy.

I agree with Juris.

You are cherry picking Sophie.  You often do this.  My comment was a generalisation which is factual.  Yours is the normal feel good one.

We'll have to agree to disagree.  Oh yes....my own mother had "eye problems" and others as well.  Incapable of using a computer.  Still had a bankbook.  Get the message?  That's how it is for some older folk.

"As for needing computers my only thought is that those who refuse to get one probably have not migrated to the automobile either" (Mick)

Is that "factual"?  Silly old Mick!

It was supposed to be an analogy Sophie.  So sorry you could not see this.

Nein, nein Mick. Wrong again. Can’t stop to explain, off for my first swim this summer. However, I’m sending you a nice song :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r120aIfa_6s

how wrong, my wife has real difficulty with computers and the like, it is unfair to expect people especially older people to use a computer, how Orwellian is all I can think about this reply.

Im a Victorian and recently flew to Cairns and then travelled by train to Brisbane, my Victorian Seniors card and my

Pensioner concession card were accepted. I also flew to Bundaberg to see Mon Repos turtles and returned to Brisbane and my concession was accepted.  

In 2014 I visited Canada and then transitted through New York to catch Qantas back to Australia. My Australian issued Seniors Card was accepted without question by Via Rail, Greyhound, Amtrak and every accomodation we stayed in. In WA I get concession fares on public transport but not the free transport given to WA seniors, and fair enough. I also get concession fares on regional trains in NSW, but I have never used an Opal Card. Seems strange that my CityLink doover works quite well on Sydney toll roads but my Victorian MiKy cannot be used in NSW or on WA public transport.

It is all because we are not 'One Nation.'

It is all because we are not 'One Nation.'

I've had difficulty accessing free and cheap bus fares when I visit South Australia from Queensland.  A Seniors card is supposed to get you free travel at off peak times, but it seems some bus drivers like to play little Hitler and tell me it must be a SA card  - which is silly as all Seniors Cards are the same.  Some have travel cards loaded on the other side.......it's very confusing.  Why not use my Age Pension Card?  that is the same throughout the country.......

Patti Seniors cards are issued on a State by State basis and any subsidies such as free or discounted travel means less fares etc for the Government, so Governments are only prepared to subsidise people from their own state. This seems reasonable to me under our current Government system. A small state like Tasmania would be severely disadvantaged if they were required to subsidise Seniors from larger states.

I have over the last few years travelled from Perth to Sydney to visit family. Each time I had to reapply for a Gold card. This expired after 60 days. Then the rigmarole of applying for a refund which took about four weeks for credit.

However, my last card sent out three months ago had printed on it that it does not expire! I queried this with the transport authority in NSW.just now and now the new cards do not expire and can be topped up as needed.

I visit friends in Adelaide quite regularly, I have always been able to use my NSW seniors/concession card to get free travel on the trains, the travel is limited to of peak times and lasts for 2 weeks, I think you can re apply each 2 weeks, I have never used the busses there so I don’t know if they are the same, when visiting Queensland I have shown my NSW concession card which has been accepted and have been given a concession, it’s not the same as Queensland residents who get a cheaper fare, they also accept your concession card on the river cats, on visits to the NT I have been able to get a concession on the hop on hop off busses, Victoria also accepts seniors/concession cards for their MYKI cards, they also accept seniors cards in the museums, I am not sure about Tassie or the ACT, WA used to accept our cards, don’t know if that’s still the case.

The joy of Federation! States do their own thing for their constituents. They do not have to cater for people from other states. Be grateful you can apply for a hold Opal card and do it before leaving home. Problem solved. 

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